Bird or Insect?

Hummingbird Moth Hemaris thysbe

The hummingbird moth, unlike most moths is seen on clear, sunny days. Many people do con- fuse it with hummingbirds because of its coloration and how it moves.

Hummingbird moths grow up to 2” long. They have an olive-green body with red bands across their abdomen. Tufts of hairs from the end of the abdomen look a lot like feathers. The wings of this moth are mostly clear, sometimes with red near the body.

Hummingbird moths live in fields, gardens, and forest edges.

After mating, female moths lay eggs on host plants (food for caterpillars), such as honeysuckle, hawthorns, viburnums, and black cherry. The caterpillars which hatch from eggs are yellowish-green with darker green lines and reddish spots on the sides. They also have a yellow tail hor.

When caterpillars are fully grown, they comb down the host plant and into the soil where they make a cocoon and become a pupa (resting stage).

If it is early in the season, the adult moths will hatch in a few weeks. If its’ in the fall the moths won’t come out until the following spring.

Adult hummingbird moths feed on nectar from many different flowers, just like hummingbirds. Some of their favorites include Japanese honeysuckle, red clover, highbush blueberry, thistles, wild roses and blackberries.

Hummingbird moths use a long, thin proboscis to eat. The proboscis stays curled up like a garden hose until time to use it. When the most approaches a flower, it uncoils its proboscis and dips deep it into the flower where the nectar is.

Predators of hummingbird moths include birds, mantids, spiders, bats and other moth– and caterpillar- eaters, although they probably get some protection from looking so much like hummingbirds.

W. Tracy Parnell, Bedford Area Master Gardener